Juvenal Delinquency: A Delineation of the Bodies of Women Acacia Katarina Laliotis College

History, as humankind knows it, encompasses a body of words, and accompanied with these textual artifacts are the ideals, thoughts, and morals of a particular society. Culture, shaped by the thoughts of our predecessors and expanders, can be defined by history’s literary works and texts. In terms of societal and intellectual growth, a culture is progressing and thriving due to the product of its literary concepts, according to Gloria K. Fiero in The Humanistic Tradition. With that said, when a historically misogynistic and satirical jab is aimed towards women, to what extent is the Roman society considered “culturally thriving?” If one group of society is not pushed to its fullest potential in sectors such as politics, education, and human decency, how can historians and civilians alike consider Roman culture as superior to its antecedent cultures? To delineate this question, one must consider that Juvenal’s Satire VI. “Against Women” is a satirical piece that centralizes on the corruption of women in wake of luxury and adultery. The answer historically, socially, and culturally can be explored through the historical works of other authors as well as modern interpretations of Juvenal’s work. Juvenal’s satire, “Against Women,”...